IAEA calls for high-level meeting on Japanese nuclear plant crisis

IAEA calls for high-level meeting on Japanese nuclear plant crisis

2011-03-29 03:20:13 GMT+7 (ICT)

VIENNA (BNO NEWS) -- IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano on Monday called for a high-level conference within three months due to the Japanese nuclear power plant crisis.

Amano called for the meeting in order to strengthen safety measures and emergency responses procedures in the light to the crisis caused by the earthquake- and tsunami-stricken nuclear power plant that has been spewing radioactive contamination into the environment since March 11.

"The Fukushima crisis has confronted the agency and international community with a major challenge. Situation remains very serious. Priority now is to overcome the crisis;" said Amano.

The head of IAEA added that the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi plant has still not been overcome and it will take further time to stabilize the reactors. Amano remarked that radioactivity in the environment, food and water is a matter of concern.

"On the positive side, electrical power has been restored at Units 1, 2 and 3 and fresh water is now available on the site," the IAEA chief added.

The meeting is planned to include an initial assessment of the accident, its impact and consequences; lessons that need to be learned; launching the process of strengthening nuclear safety; and strengthening the response to nuclear accidents in an emergency.

In addition, Amano informed that once the crisis is stabilized, IAEA will likely send an international expert mission to conduct an assessment of the situation. The meeting is expected to be held in IAEA's headquarters in Vienna.

"The Fukushima crisis has confronted the Agency and the international community with a major challenge. It is vitally important that we learn the right in order to strengthen nuclear safety throughout the world."

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